Sonic Pico Park Review Roundup: 78 Metascore and 92% Steam
Sonic Pico Park reviews land around 78 on Metacritic with 92% positive on Steam. Here is what critics love, what they criticize, and who should buy.
SONIC PICO PARK reviews are positive but not unanimous. The game sits at 78 on Metacritic for PS5 and 83 for PC in the first week, with 92 percent positive Steam reviews from 67 user reviews. The PlayStation Store shows 4.84 out of 5 from 57 ratings. The pattern across critics is consistent: the crossover works, the co-op is sharp, and the campaign ends sooner than most groups want.
This is not a review of the game in isolation. It is a roundup of what the published reviews agree on, where they disagree, and whether the scores match the experience your group will have.
A clever, compact co-op puzzler that respects both PICO PARK and Sonic, with a short campaign and a flying-character balance problem.
Scores at a glance
| Source | Score | Platform | Emphasis |
|---|---|---|---|
| Metacritic critic average | 78 | PS5 | Mixed-positive |
| Metacritic critic average | 83 | PC | Positive |
| Steam user reviews | 92% positive | PC | Very Positive, 67 reviews |
| PlayStation Store | 4.84 / 5 | PS5 | 57 ratings |
| MonsterVine | 4 / 5 | PS5 | Novel level design, colorful charm |
| Shacknews | 8 / 10 | PS5 | Serviceable, not spectacular |
| Siliconera | Positive, unscored | PS5 | Strong crossover, flying too strong |
Review aggregates move in the first weeks, especially with small sample sizes. The Metacritic PS5 average was based on seven critic reviews and the PC average on four when this page was updated. Treat the numbers as a snapshot, not a permanent verdict.
What critics agree on
The crossover is more than a skin
The strongest praise goes to how the two games are fused. Siliconera calls it an astonishingly strong PICO PARK game and Sonic spin-off, with the mechanics of both titles coming through. That is the key point: the Sonic additions are not cosmetic. Rings, Spin Dash, loops, springs, and flight change how the puzzle rooms are solved.
MonsterVine's review describes the game as simple on the surface but packed with novel level design and colorful charm. The level design is where the crossover earns its price. A PICO PARK room with a loop or a rail is a different problem from a room with only platforms.
The co-op is the point
Every review frames the game as a group activity. The rules are deliberately minimal: reach the goal plate, and every player has to touch it. The challenge comes from the group, not from a long tutorial or a story campaign. Shacknews calls it a serviceable puzzle game, which is faint praise, but the same review treats the co-op as functional rather than broken.
The best sessions sound like the best PICO PARK sessions: people talking over each other, a plan falling apart, and a solution that only works because someone improvised. The Sonic characters give each player a slightly different tool, which makes the improvisation more varied than the older games.
The price is right
At $9.99, the game clears the value bar for most critics. The campaign is short, but the price is low, and the Battle mode adds a second activity for groups that finish the main stages. A full-price release with this much content would be criticized for length; a $9.99 release is judged on whether it delivers a good evening.
Where critics push back
The campaign is short
The most common complaint is length. Reviews describe the sixty stages as quick, with most rooms solved in under a minute once the group understands the gimmick. A coordinated pair can finish the campaign in an evening or two. The game does not have a long tail of unlockables, and the achievement list is mostly world-clear milestones.
That is a design choice, not a bug. PICO PARK games are built for short, dense sessions. But if you expect a month of progression, the $9.99 price is the only thing that makes the length acceptable.
Flying characters are strong
Siliconera specifically flags flying characters as maybe too strong. The flight characters can carry one teammate across gaps, and the game's platforming challenges assume that not everyone can fly. In a group with a skilled flyer, some rooms become transport puzzles rather than coordination puzzles.
The counterargument is that flight is fun and the game is not competitive. The imbalance matters most if your group cares about doing rooms the intended way. If your group just wants to finish, the flyer is a feature.
It feels familiar
Shacknews's review is the coolest of the major outlets, describing the game as a leisurely stroll rather than a standout. The criticism is not that the game is bad; it is that the PICO PARK formula is familiar by now. If you have played the earlier games, the first few worlds may feel like a remix rather than a new idea.
The Sonic mechanics are the answer to that criticism, and they land best in the middle worlds where the game stops teaching and starts combining loops, rails, water, and enemies.
What the scores do not tell you
Review scores measure a solo critic's experience with a review build, usually played in a controlled session. This game is not a solo experience. The same sixty stages can feel generous with four friends and thin with one reluctant partner.
The other gap is the online experience. Reviews focus on local play because that is how the game is easiest to evaluate. Crossplay lobbies, connection quality, and the eight-player chaos are less covered. If you plan to play online, the review scores are a weaker signal than the crossplay guide → and the online setup guide →.
Who should buy it
Buy it if:
- You have at least one other person who will play through the campaign with you.
- You like short, dense puzzle rooms rather than long levels.
- You want a $9.99 game for a group session this week.
- You have a soft spot for Sonic and want to see the mechanics used in a puzzle context.
Skip it if:
- You only play solo. There is no single-player mode.
- You need a long progression loop or a live-service schedule.
- You dislike party-game chaos and want a precise solo platformer.
- You are waiting for a deep discount; the game is already cheap, and the launch window is the best time to find a lobby.
The level count and length guide → gives a more concrete time estimate. The PICO PARK 2 comparison → covers whether this is the right entry point for a group that has not played the series.
Official source: SONIC PICO PARK on Steam ↗
Official source: SONIC PICO PARK official site ↗
The Metacritic page ↗ tracks the platform averages. The Siliconera review ↗ covers the crossover mechanics in detail. MonsterVine ↗ and Shacknews ↗ provide the two scored reviews cited above.
FAQ
Is Sonic Pico Park worth buying?
For $9.99 and a group of two or more, yes. The campaign is short but dense, and the co-op is the point. Solo players should skip it.
What is Sonic Pico Park's Metacritic score?
78 for PS5 and 83 for PC in the first week, based on seven and four critic reviews respectively.
Is Sonic Pico Park better than Pico Park 2?
They are different games. Sonic Pico Park adds Sonic mechanics and a faster pace; PICO PARK 2 is the more traditional entry. The right choice depends on whether your group wants the crossover.
Why do reviews call it short?
Sixty stages sounds like a lot, but most rooms take under a minute once the group understands the gimmick. A coordinated pair can finish the campaign in a few sessions.
Does the game have single-player?
No. SONIC PICO PARK requires at least two players. There is no solo mode and no bot teammates.